From that opening game, pure offensive power was the only thing that worried head coach Amy Fenzel-Mergott coming into the season. Godwin couldn't score it all, and there needed to be a certain flow.

There was — except for two games.

Decatur lost two games this year, won 23 in a row and took home its first Bayside Championship since 1977.

But just like in the second game of the year against Mardela, the Seahawks (24-2) couldn't muster a bucket in the second half, losing 67-43 to Westlake (21-5) in the 3A south region final in Berlin on Monday.

"We were just getting unlucky with our shots and they were hitting all of their shots," Petito said. "It happens like that."

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Decatur did not hit a shot from beyond the arc, but the Wolverines did, especially in the second half.

Briana Hardee led all scorers with 26, and 18 from Godwin led Decatur. If it wasn't Hardee's night, someone else would have stepped up for Westlake. Each player stepped on the floor ready to knock down the 3-pointer or slice through the Seahawks' defense.

"They were making their shots," Fenzel-Mergott said. "They came out and they made a bunch of 3-pointers and they were making their foul shots. And for us on our offense, we got stagnant. At first, we were moving, getting great shots."

Decatur led for most of the first two quarters, until the Wolverines' size advantage took over.

A couple of second-chance points to end the second gave Westlake the 32-25 lead they would never relinquish.

"The luck was not going our way," VanKirk said. "The game was fast-paced, which was unlike the competition in the Bayside — a whole different sort of ballgame. Them playing man-to-man on us was a difference because we don't see that much during our regular season, but I think our shots just weren't falling like they normally do and just little things that didn't come together."

With less than four minutes to play, Jones fouled out.

Reality set in. The buzzer sounded and she slowly walked to the scorer's table. The future Decatur center, Mumford, subbed in, and Jones was met with a hug from Fenzel-Mergott.

"It was really disappointing," Jones said. "There were a lot of things we should have done better — like rebound was one big aspect. I think around the Bayside, we have a lot of smaller players and not a lot of height. … It is super devastating because we know our capability and could have gone a lot farther."

Not one Seahawks' fan left the bleachers with the Westlake lead reaching double digits.

The Decatur team got the standing ovation they deserved.

There wasn't a dry eye in the locker room, and their faces, bright red, couldn't hide it either.

"Since we've had such a great season, it's hard to end it like that," Petito said. "I'm so proud of everyone and the season we've put out."

Godwin slipped out before an interview request, but Fenzel-Mergott said she was silent after the game, living in the moment of being with her teammates who accomplished so much together one last time.

"She's going to miss her teammates the most," one Decatur assistant said.

"Before the game, we didn't talk at all about this might be our last game together," Fenzel-Mergott said. "After the game, coming in and having that be a reality now — all of us and everyone in there was emotional because it's a special group of girls."

But as VanKirk, Petito, Jones, Beck and Blair Yesko depart, Fenzel-Mergott said the future is bright. Sophomore Lexie VanKirk played tough minutes tonight, her coach said.

Her sister, Payton, said the younger players are ready to step up.

"There is a lot of hope in the future," Fenzel-Mergott said. "While we're sad, there is a lot of promise for next year."

But there are shoes to fill. The senior class changed the program, instilling a winning attitude, Fenzel-Mergott said.

The energy, effort and determination will have to transfer to the sophomores and freshman to keep the tradition alive.